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Bhandardara – This sleepy town on the way to Nashik boasts of having the third highest waterfall of the country in its vicinity. It is a delight to watch the Pravara River plunging from the ghats to form the Randha Falls (170 feet).For the adventurous, there are lots of treks on offer as the highest peak of the Sahyadris Mount Kalsubai lies within half an hour from here. Bhandardara is located 180 kms northeast of Mumbai. To reach there by rail , get down at Igatpuri as it is the nearest railhead as Bhandardara is just at a distance of 42 kms from the station. If you are planning to travel by road, take the Mumbai-Nashik highway, a few kilometers after Igatpuri take a right to enter Ghoti. Through the narrow roads of this village ascend through its mountains to watch the spectacular sight of this region.

Lonavala and Khandala - These twin hills stations are 96 kms away from Mumbai. Lonvala famous for its Chikki’s in fact gets livelier during the monsoons with waterfalls and lush green surroundings. Ryewood Park, Tiger’s leap, Karla caves,Bhaja caves, Bedse caves, Rajmachi point, Valvan dam, Bushy dam, Duke’s nose and Lohagad fort are places that you must visit here.

Matheran – This hill station is a major trekking destination and more importantly it is pollution free. Vehicles are not permitted within the hill-station and that’s how the pollution level is kept under control. Like in other hill-stations there a few points here that provide you with the fantastic view of the beauty that surrounds this place. One of the attractions of Matheran is the toy train; don’t miss a ride on the mini train.
Alibaug – It is Famous for its various beaches. Make it a point to visit places like Kolaba fort located along the shore of Alibaug beach, but be careful about the tides before you head out. Also visit the Kanakeshwar temple and the Murud-Janjira fort located close to Alibaug.
Nashik – It is hard to believe, but Maharashtra has a 4,000 year old tradition of wine- making. This wine capital of India is just a 4 hour drive away from Mumbai. If you are visiting Nashik head towards Suka, Vinsura and ND wines for a wine tasting session. Another must visit is the Gangapur Dam and Pandava caves, where the Pandavas are believed to have lived during exile.

Gorai-Manori – These two beaches make for a perfect weekend getaway for those who just want to rest without indulging in any kind of activities.
There is no dearth of weekend getaways for Mumbaikars, whether you wish to spend your holiday near the beach, trekking in the mountains, on a hill station or at a fun place not too far way from this bustling city there are places that are known and some relatively unexplored.